Online surveys to gauge ideas about Strand’s future: One measures general interest in facility, other if it could be performing arts center

Tuesday

Jul 16, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Kendall Salterksalter@fosters.com

DOVER — The Dover Arts Commission discussed ways to continue to help Dover become a center for the performing arts at its meeting on Monday.

Among their topics was the continuing discussion over the feasibility of using the Strand as a possible future space for performing arts. The theater was the topic of discussion at a June 20 meeting designed to gather input from the residents of Dover regarding the building’s future.

That meeting, attended by more than two dozen people, made it clear that at least some of Dover’s residents are interested in preserving the building as a space for entertainment and film. Some residents proposed using it as a space for food and a bar. Others suggested that the theater be used to screen documentaries and foreign films, or that it become a home to community arts events with training programs and classes.

As of that date, the theater was on sale for $690,000.

According to Arts Commission co-chair Jane Hamor, the building is only part of what the commission sees as a larger plan to help Dover become a regional center for performing arts. Converting the Strand into a modern performance space would take considerable time, organization and the community’s financial support.

Louise Stevens, a consultant hired by the Chamber of Commerce to help determine what role the Strand could play as a future arts center in the city, was present at the last community meeting where residents voiced various ideas for the old theater. At the June 20 gathering, Stevens said that she wanted to figure out if the Strand could play a productive role in the community and that she needed to get a sense of what the community wanted. Hamor said that Stevens will need more information to make an assessment of the building’s feasibility as an overall venture.

“I think we’re taking an active role in the feasibility study,” Hamor said.

Stevens took a sampling of the community’s feedback and created two online surveys. This week, members of the public will be able to fill out those surveys on the city website. One concerns community interest in the Strand. Another survey designed to get a feel for potential interest in Dover as an arts destination will be available for performing arts groups around the region.

Hamor is not sure if the Strand will be part of the commissions’ efforts at making Dover a performing arts destination. Not only would the building cost money to purchase, she said, but costs of upkeep and operations would have to be considered as well. Because of this, the future of the Strand remains uncertain.

“There are so many variables with that particular building,” Hamor said. “You can’t say, ‘Oh, it’s going to be there.’”